The Islamabad District and Sessions Court has declared that the crime against PTI Chairman in the Toshakhana criminal case has been proved, and sentenced him to three-year imprisonment.
Imran Khan has also been disqualified for five years.
Announcing its verdict reserved a short while ago, the court also rejected the former premier’s appeal against declaring the case maintainable.
The verdict stated that the suspect filed false details with the election commission, and has been found guilty of corrupt practices.
Chairman PTI ’s arrest warrants were also issued by the court. He has also been fined Rs100,000. If the fine is not submitted, the jail term will exceed for another six months.
The Islamabad police chief has been ordered to implement the court order.
A heavy contingent of police has reached outside Chairman PTI Zaman Park residence in Lahore. Police has also sealed all the roads leading to Zaman Park.
The verdict had been reserved in the Toshakhana criminal case against chairman PTI over non-appearance of the PTI chief’s counsel for extending final arguments. The judge had said he will announce the verdict at 12:30pm.
Earlier, Additional District and Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar had declared that he will announce the verdict at noon if the petitioner’s lawyer does not turn up to extend the final arguments as per the high court orders.
Following the IHC orders, Judge Dilawar then adjourned the hearing, for the third time today, till noon as the counsel for the PTI chief failed to show up despite repeated summons.
Announcing the third break in the proceedings for the day, Judge Humayun Dilawar said the associate lawyer is unable to say when senior counsel Khawaja Harris will turn up in court.
He questioned what will happen if the counsel doesn’t appear till late night.
The judge remarked that the court had summoned Khawaja Harris at 8:30am, adding that if a suspect does not appear on the first summons, a non-bailable arrest warrant is issued.
Before announcing the third break till 10:30am, the judge asked the election commission’s lawyer to recite some poetry while they waited for Khawaja Harris.
Amjad Pervaiz read out a verse: “Vo mila to sadiyon ke baad mere lab par koi gila na tha. Usay meri chup ne rula diya jissay guftugu mein kamaal tha.”
At this, the courtroom resounded with chants of “wah wah” in appreciation.
Imran moves SC against IHC verdict
PTI Chairman has moved the Supreme Court against the Islamabad High Court’s Friday verdict in the Toshakhana criminal case.
An application was filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of the former premier by his legal team.
The petition has sought to declare the Toshakhana case non-maintainable and halt its trial.
Remanding the issue of maintainability of the case back to trial court judge Humayun Dilawar has been challenged. A stay order on the trial has also been sought.
In his appeal, filed through his lawyer Khawaja Haris, the PTI chairman has argued that the high court committed a legal error by sending the case back to the same judge as the trial court judge had already expressed his view.
The IHC had been requested to transfer the case to another judge, but it did not apply judicial mind while remanding back the case.
The high court also misrepresented the appeals, the petition stated.
The Supreme Court has been requested to declare the decision of the Islamabad High Court chief justice null and void and a stay order issued on the proceedings of the trial court.
On Friday, the IHC had declared a district and sessions court verdict on the Toshakhana criminal case null and void, while PTI chairman request to declare the case non-maintainable was turned down.
The request to transfer the Toshakhana case to another court was rejected, while notices were issued for next week on the request to restore the right to defence.
Moreover, PTI chairman could not receive immediate stay order from the court.
The sessions court should hear the case again and decide, the verdict stated.
